Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 151 The Beginning of Special Training

Chapter 151 The Beginning of Special Training

On a Saturday afternoon, the sunlight slanted through the side windows high up in the Eagle's Nest. Karen stood in the center of the room, looking around at his three roommates.

Wesley was impatient, tapping his toes and constantly waving his wand slightly, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement. Fabien stood ramrod straight, carefully examining the tip of his wand. Ernesto, meanwhile, turned slightly to the side, awaiting Cullen's start.

"Alright," Karen's voice broke the silence of Eagle's Nest, echoing clearly in the soundproofed space, "Defense and combat training, first time, let's begin." He walked to a nearby worktable, where several pieces of clothing made from old robes and sewn together were neatly arranged.

A slightly bulky square cushion.

With a light tap of the wand, the four cushions floated up and hovered about half a person's height off the ground, occupying the four corners of the Eagle's Nest room.

"Today's target is the Disarming Charm." Karen's gaze swept over the three of them. "One of the most basic combat spells, with a wide range of applications in battle. There are only two requirements: speed and accuracy." He walked to the center of the arena, his back to a suspended cushion. "Speed ​​refers to casting speed. In the face of an attack, even half a second's delay can make a world of difference. Accuracy refers to hit rate. A Disarming Charm that misses is meaningless except for wasting mana."

He turned around to face the slightly swaying padded target, his right hand hanging naturally at his side, his wand pressed against the seam of his trousers.

"Watch closely."

Without any warning, without even a visible exertion of force in his shoulder, his wrist flicked and released with incredible speed—"Epelliarmus!"

A blinding red light instantly tore through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound! The cushion seemed to be slammed by an invisible giant hammer, flying backward and crashing heavily into the wall in the distance with a loud "bang." A piece of the filling inside seemed to have slid out before slowly sliding to the ground.

The entire movement, from initiation to impact, was lightning fast and incredibly smooth, without the slightest hesitation. The room was completely silent, save for the soft thud of the cushion as it landed.

Wesley gasped, his eyes widening. "Merlin's beard! Cullen, you were so fast! I didn't even see you wave your wand! It was just like that spellcasting scene from Professor Flitwick's memory we saw last semester!"

Fabian subconsciously pushed up his glasses again, his tone full of admiration: "The casting delay is almost zero. Is this what you learned from Professor Flitwick? It feels even more concise and powerful than the spell we cast in the Forbidden Forest."

Ernesto pursed his lips, and although he didn't say anything, it was clear that he was surprised by the speed and power of Karen's spellcasting.

Karen walked over and used a levitation spell to pull the blasted cushion back into place and suspend it. "The usefulness of this spell lies in the fact that it can not only knock away enemy weapons, but also be used as an impact-based attack spell. Okay, stop just watching. Now,"

Each person finds a target, spaced out, and practices on a single, stationary target first.

The three immediately dispersed and each chose a soft pad target in a corner.

"First step, the action." Karen walked over to Wesley. The red-haired boy immediately assumed a fighting stance, mimicking Karen's earlier movements.

His arm muscles were taut, as if he was about to charge forward with all his might.

“Relax, Wesley.” Karen reached out and gently pressed his hand on Wesley’s taut right shoulder and upper arm muscles. “You’re casting a spell, not ramming someone on a Quidditch pitch. Strength isn’t something you can just brute force. Imagine your wand is an extension of your arm, and magic is like—well, like the finesse of a precise pass in soccer. Engage your core, stabilize your torso, let the power travel from your waist to your shoulder, then to your elbow, and finally gather in your wrist and fingertips. Magic is the same way.” He tapped Wesley’s wrist joint with his finger. “That’s the key.”

It's about 'pushing' it out, not 'smashing' it. Feel the direction of the magic's flow.

He walked over to Fabian. Fabian's movements were generally fine; his wrist movements were clean and precise, and every swing was standard.

"Very good, Fabian, your movements are perfect. Now try to speed things up a bit, don't think too much about breaking down the movements, let them become instinctive reactions. Just like the feel of your hand when you're quickly taking notes," Karen encouraged.

Ernesto's movements were somewhat more nuanced. His movements were fluid and elegant, his wrist flicks possessing a pleasing rhythm, as if conducting an invisible orchestra. However, "Ernesto," Karen walked over and interrupted another graceful but slightly slow swing of his staff, "the movements are beautiful. But combat isn't a stage performance. The arc you're aiming for," Karen gestured in the air, indicating Ernesto's habitual swing trajectory, "is too long. It wastes a fraction of a second and dilutes some of the power. Try shortening and straightening the trajectory. Magic bursts are about efficiency, not aesthetics. When your wrist reaches this point, you must immediately 'flick' the power out." He simulated a shorter, more direct burst of power.

A fleeting hint of embarrassment crossed Ernesto's face, but he quickly recovered, nodded, and began to try the simpler, more powerful movements Karen had suggested.

"Epelliarmus!"

"Epelliarmus!"

Red beams of light began to flash continuously within the Eagle's Nest, accompanied by chanting incantations. Although Wesley's technique had been corrected by Karen, his momentum remained, and his incantations were quite powerful, the red light thick and resonant, making the cushions thud. However, his accuracy was inconsistent, sometimes even grazing the edges of the cushions. Fabian, on the other hand, was like a precise machine, striving for precise movements, clear incantations, and stable red light with each spell, steadily improving his hit rate. Ernesto, however, seemed to struggle. He tried to abandon his habitual elegant arcs and attempt a more direct approach, but his movements became somewhat stiff, the light of his incantations flickered, and his hit rate was actually lower than before.

"Stop for a moment." Karen observed for a few minutes before calling a halt again. "Next, try silent spellcasting. But don't expect to master it instantly; these exercises require time and a lot of practice. I'll teach you the techniques first, and then you can practice on your own. For now, we'll start with 'rapid chanting' as a transition."

"Silent?" Wesley, who had just started to get the hang of it, immediately looked disappointed. "Karen, this is too difficult! I can't even get it right when I pronounce it!"

"It's precisely because you're used to relying on the pronunciation of spells to guide your magic that you need to practice even more," Karen explained patiently. "In battle, the enemy won't give you time to chant. Silent casting can give you the upper hand and catch your opponent off guard. Moreover," he looked at the three of them, "in the process of practicing silent spells, you will gain a deeper understanding of how magic is guided by your will and emotions, rather than being led by the sound of the spell. This, in turn, can improve the accuracy and control of your spoken spells. But we'll proceed step by step, and you already have some foundation in practicing the silent levitation spell, although you haven't fully mastered it yet."

He demonstrated again. Facing the mat, his body relaxed, his eyes sharply locking onto the target. With a swift flick of his wrist, he sent it flying! There was no incantation, only a silent yet equally swift red light that struck the center of the mat precisely, knocking it away.

"First, practice 'rapid chanting'," Karen emphasizes. "Chant the spell very quickly and indistinctly, gradually increasing the speed, even until you're just making breathy sounds. The key is to focus your mind on the target, on the intention of 'disarming,' rather than clearly pronouncing each syllable. Let the pronunciation of the spell be a supporting mental suggestion, not the dominant one. The movements should still be precise and powerful."

He demonstrated the disarming spell again with "rapid chanting," the incantation was unclear and the speed was extremely fast, but the red light still struck the cushion swiftly.

"Once you can consistently and successfully activate the spell using this rapid, indistinct pronunciation without decreasing your accuracy, try further weakening the sound, transitioning to slight lip movements, or even just reciting it silently in your mind. Remember, the core is intention-driven! Actions can assist, but intention is the core! The final form of the silent spell is to completely abandon the crutch of sound and let intention directly drive the burst of magic."

Practice resumed, with increased difficulty, but Karen emphasized gradual progression, giving Wesley and the others a clear sense of progression.

After countless spellcasting practice sessions, Wesley strained, his eyes fixed on the target, muttering indistinctly, "Expiamus!" with rapid, forceful breaths. He then flicked his wrist! A slightly weaker, but still clear, red beam shot out, striking the mat with a thud, albeit slightly off-center. "Hey! It worked! A little less powerful, though!" he exclaimed excitedly.

Fabian frowned slightly, his lips moving rapidly to utter barely audible, extremely short syllables: "E'mus!" At the same time, his wrist swung swiftly. A steady red beam struck the bullseye precisely. He nodded slightly, seemingly quite accepting of this transition.

Ernesto tried to avoid clear pronunciation, his lips moving rapidly to produce short, sharp breaths: ".sarmus!" His wrist moved in tandem with a short burst of force. A beam of light shot out, less powerful than when he chanted at full power, but it struck the cushion accurately. The tense lines on his face relaxed slightly.

Karen moved among them, constantly emphasizing the importance of intention and spirit: "Wesley, stop just muttering, think about 'smash it'! Fill your mind with that thought!" "Fabian, very good, keep your intention clear!" "Ernesto, you can be even more decisive. Once the intention is there, the magic will naturally follow!"

Time passed in focused training. When Karen announced the end of the first phase of fixed-target practice, all three except him were slightly out of breath, but their eyes were filled with excitement at overcoming the initial difficulties.

"Take a five-minute break." Karen walked to the worktable, picked up the kettle, and poured water for everyone.

Wesley took the water glass and gulped down a large mouthful, wiping his mouth with sparkling eyes: "Phew! I'm exhausted! But, Karen, this rapid chanting seems to really work! For the last few seconds, I felt like I was just thinking 'fly away,' and the spell just came out with a few random words! It's much easier than just holding it in!"

Fabian sipped his water and commented earnestly, "Mental guidance does require some getting used to, but blurring the pronunciation as a transition lowers the barrier to direct silence, which is a very practical method. I feel my control over magic is definitely improving." He looked at Karen, "It seems I was too hasty when I practiced the Silent Levitation Spell before, and didn't take it step by step."

Ernesto didn't speak, but silently drank his water, his eyes fixed on the wand that he had successfully hit the target, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the smooth wood grain of the wand.

"Break over." Karen put down her water glass. "Phase Two: Accuracy Improvement. Multiple stationary targets, hit them within a time limit."

He tapped his wand repeatedly, and this time six cushions floated up, hovering at different heights and positions in the room. Some were higher than a person's head, while others were almost touching the ground, and they were distributed in a completely random manner.

"Rules: Hit all six targets within ten seconds. The order doesn't matter, but you must hit the bullseye to count." Karen took out a simple hourglass timer and placed it on the shelf next to her. "It will be a little slow at first. The goal is to eventually complete it within five seconds. First, practice using normal spellcasting, and then try the rapid incantation method. Of course, if you are confident in your abilities, you can use the latter directly. Wesley, you go first."

Wesley looked at the six targets of varying heights and eagerly walked to the center of the field. "Watch me!" he exclaimed, taking a deep breath.

The wand was quickly pointed at the nearest low-flying target, and the wand was rapidly and indistinctly chanted, "Expiams!" A flash of red light, and it hit the target.

Then, pointing to one diagonally above, he pronounced it clearly this time.

The third one, a swaying target high up: "Hiss!" It veered slightly off course, grazing the edge as it flew past.

"Damn it!" Wesley cursed, quickly aiming for the next target: "Epelliarmus!" His movements were clearly flustered. By the time he frantically hit another target, the hourglass had already run out of sand.

"Timeout. And you missed two." Karen calmly pointed out, "The problem: the target switching was too slow, and the path wasn't planned in advance. You only tried to aim when you saw the target, wasting time re-locking on. Try quickly scanning the entire board, mentally planning the most efficient attack sequence, and then executing it without hesitation, with smooth movements. Bring the same focus you have when practicing Quidditch, like you're on the field facing a Quaffle, a Runner, and the positions of your opponents and teammates, making quick plans and judgments."

Wesley scratched his head: "Oh—it seems—it's a bit messy."

It was Fabian's turn. He stood still, but didn't immediately fire. Instead, his gaze calmly and quickly swept over the positions of all the targets, as if he were constructing a route map in his mind. A few seconds later, he moved.

"Epelliarmus!" Hit.

The wrist slashed diagonally upwards almost without pause: "E'mus!" Hit.

He turned slightly, and his wand pointed to the lowest one. Before he could finish the spell, it hit. He was stunned for a moment, but didn't stop.

Next, at the highest point, a rapid, blurred sound hits.

The last two were side by side, one in front of the other, two beams of red light, hitting the target precisely.

There is still a little less sand left in the hourglass.

"Very good!" Karen nodded approvingly. "The target selection was reasonable, the movements were fluid, and it saved time. The switching of pronunciation was also very flexible. Fabian, try compressing the time interval between the attacks on the last two targets even further, using rapid, blurred sounds for both."

Fabian nodded and tried again. This time, after hitting the fourth target, he flicked his wrist twice more rapidly, emitting short, almost consecutive breaths, and two beams of red light shot out almost end to end, accurately detonating the last two targets. The time was even shorter than before.

When Ernesto came on, his movements became clean and crisp. Each swing was concise and powerful, but he chose to pronounce his incantations clearly, seemingly wanting to ensure his basic accuracy first.

"Epelliarmus!" Hit.

When he hit the sixth target, the hourglass had just run out of sand.

"The timing was excellent," Karen commented, "but the pauses between each target were too obvious. While the movements were graceful, they wasted time. Try doing what Fabian did, integrating aiming and movement into a smooth flow, reducing those deliberate pauses. The rhythm of combat is fluid. Next time, try adding rapid incantations to speed things up."

Ernesto glanced at the hourglass, then at Fabian's fluid movements, and nodded silently, his eyes thoughtful.

It was Karen's turn. He didn't even bother to look at the targets; he just stood casually in the center. The moment the hourglass turned, he moved.

There was no significant movement of the body, only the wrist holding the cane vibrating and stabbing at a high frequency that was difficult to detect with the naked eye! There was not a sound!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Six blinding red beams, like shooting stars guided by invisible threads, struck six different targets at varying heights and locations with completely different trajectories in less than three seconds! The red beams lit up and vanished almost simultaneously, leaving only six slightly dented targets swaying gently in place.

The entire Eagle's Nest fell silent once more. The precision of the silence was even more awe-inspiring than any spoken sound.

Wesley's mouth hung open, utterly silent. Fabian's hand, adjusting his glasses, froze in mid-air. Ernesto's gaze followed the lingering trail of red light intently, as if trying to etch the image into his mind.

Karen put down his wand. "See? The movements can be simplified to the extreme. Locking onto the target with your mind must be quick and accurate, and the activation of magic must be as natural as your own limbs. This requires a lot of practice, to make your body and magic instinctive. Of course, I also used some of Professor Flitwick's casting techniques that I practiced before." He looked at his three roommates, who were still a little dazed. "Alright, continue practicing. Goal: Hit all six targets within ten seconds. As for the pronunciation, choose the method that's most comfortable for you at this stage. Those who complete the goal can shorten the time requirement themselves."

Practice began again. Inside the Eagle's Nest, red beams of light crisscrossed, accompanied by increasingly rapid breathing, fragments of incantations, and occasional curses or low shouts of success. Sweat soaked the boys' temples, but their eyes shone brighter, a flame of "progress" and "challenge to oneself" quietly igniting within them. Karen moved among them, her voice steady, pointing out every subtle shortcoming and sharing the tips she had learned in her own training.

"The wrist is the bowstring, the mind is the arrow. Tense, then—release!" He pressed down on Wesley's arm, which had stiffened again due to impatience.

"Don't let the target's position lead you; you need to control the rhythm. Once your eyes scan it, the position is etched in your mind, and your wand follows your 'thought,' not your eyes," he reminded Fabian.

"Smoothness doesn't equal slowness, Ernesto. Concentrate your power in the moment of explosion, and the previous movements can be faster and more spontaneous." He corrected Ernesto's lingering sense of deliberateness.

As the last rays of the setting sun sparingly cast their final golden light into the eagle's nest, the first special training session came to an end. Everyone was exhausted.

Wesley collapsed to the floor, panting heavily. Fabian leaned against the wall, wiping away sweat, while Ernesto leaned slightly against the workbench, his bangs damp with sweat and clinging to his forehead. But in their eyes, besides exhaustion, there was more excitement and a lingering sense of accomplishment. This feeling of growing strength was captivating.

"Same time next week, we'll continue." Karen put away the slightly deformed padded targets. "Next time: Dynamic attacks with the Disarming Charm. Go back and think about today's questions, especially the feeling of focusing your mind when chanting the spell quickly. Try to feel it more. The ultimate goal of the Silent Charm is to make this intention completely replace sound. Of course, if you can make it even replace your wand, then congratulations, you've mastered wandless spellcasting."